![Trevor Plouffe #24 of the Minnesota Twins misjudged the hop on the all allowing Luis Sardinas #10 of the Milwaukee Brewers to reach first base in the ninth inning. ] (KYNDELL HARKNESS/STAR TRIBUNE) kyndell.harkness@startribune.com Twins: vs. Milwaukee at Target Field in Minneapolis, Min., Saturday, June 6, 2015. Brewers won 4-2.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/TRNZCGWA4AEAR2WDAPVI3ITXZQ.jpg?&w=1080)
The Twins have been outscored on this homestand, 17-10, so it's not a surprise that they are only 1-3. But the fact that they are averaging just 2.5 runs in these four games, after more than doubling that output — 5.3 runs per game — in their first 26 games at Target Field is a little unusual. But Paul Molitor made it clear that he does not intend to be a knee-jerk manager, reacting to every surge and drought with big changes.
Trevor Plouffe, for instance, is 1-for-28 in June, after batting .312 with five home runs in May. Yet he's back in the cleanup spot tonight, his manager showing faith this his rough week is just a blip. Plouffe has taken some good at-bats, Molitor said, and doesn't look any different than he did when things were going well.
The Twins must win tonight or fall into second place for the first time since May 30. They open the day as one of three AL teams that are nine games above .500, along with Houston and these Royals. They are three games ahead of the first non-playoff team in the league, the Rangers, whom the Twins coincidentally play this weekend in Arlington.
Trevor May is on the mound tonight for the Twins, hoping to build upon the first scoreless start of his career, his seven-inning, two-hit blanking at Fenway Park last Wednesday. He's opposed by Chris Young, the Royals righthander who owns a 3.35 ERA in eight career appearances against Minnesota.
Here are tonight's lineups for Game 2 of this three-game set:
ROYALS
Escobar SS
Moustakas 3B
